Talk to me about... Opticians.

[GNM67]

My step father was an optometrist he would always talk about people coming in after they had been to Specsavers and having to redo the test as the prescription was invariably wrong. A few years ago so they may have got better but a chain will always be trying to get people through quickly to maximise profit.

 

[staffordjas]

I went to Vision Express each time so far , but will be looking elsewhere for my next reading/varifocals .

My eye was bloodshot and blurred on my last visit a few years ago and they went ahead with the test anyway. I felt ill and had to have water , but they insisted on carrying on . I still can't wear my reading glasses for reading now as they are far too strong. Only use them for magnifying glasses if threading needles and still wearing my old reading glasses from years ago. Latest Varifocals are ok just for my driving , though I can't use them properly for reading.
Price quoted escalated as what I thought was included at first suddenly had 'extras' added on. I jut wanted to get out of there and bought them as I felt so ill.

Keep getting reminders , but as I can still see perfectly good with an old pair I got years ago I'm sticking with them.

 

[littleme]

Where local is any good? I'm having some issues with one eye, visibility has dropped noticeably over the last 12 months and drastically more recently. I've had blood tests done as my sugar levels are high, wasn't sure if that could affect vision, I need to go back to the doctors to discuss results next week but she said best to get a thorough eye check up.

So I want somewhere that does the whole lot, eye photography n stuff, and not just a place that tries to sell me glasses as I've had dealings with in the past (any place that tries to put your prescription on file rather than hand it over after you've paid for the test can feck right off!). With covid it's been a long time since I got them checked out, can't even remember who I used last, so any recommendations will be gratefully received.

Blood sugar can drasticly effect vision, as can a vitimin b12 deficiency.

 

[Noah]

Caroline Parker in Penkridge very good on testing but very expensive on glasses

 

[Jonah]

Have used Specsavers, Boots and Webb & Lucas (on Bridge Street) over the last few years.

Specsavers eye test were good and comprehensive
Boots eye test was very quick, not accurate and terrible in comparison to Specsavers or Webb & Lucas.
Webb & Lucas were also good and comprehensive.

Currently using Webb & Lucas as I have found the lenses they supply to be better for me than Specsavers. The only downside is that those lenses are also a lot more expensive than the ones at Specsavers.

I would never go back to Boots but I would use the other two.

 

[Feed The Goat]

I am all for saving money but not where eyesight is concerned.

Webb and Lucas have top notch staff and the latest equipment.

Also I want to see the same person time after time and Webb and Lucas provide me with continuity of care.

 

[tek-monkey]

Thanks all.

Saving money is not so much my priority as avoiding people solely focussed on making money. I hate sales people, the second I feel someone is trying to push I immediately push back even if it's in my own interests! I just want someone that is happy with a price paid for a service rendered, not see me as a potential upsell to be fleeced. I'm much more likely to spend money if no pressure is exerted.

 

[The Notorious A.N.T.]

Mincher-Lockett are very good, after 45 years of not needing glasses they sorted me out with my first pair back in January. Also good to support an independent business rather than a corporate multiple chain.

 

[tek-monkey]

Ended up at boots simply because I could get in next day. Lots of machines used and been told I'm old! Need varifocals or 2 pairs apparently, personally I'd not really had an issue up close unless it's within 20cm so seems an expensive addition TBH! My prescription looks like it changed a little from last time so no point digging out the old pairs.

 

[tek-monkey]

Just found the old prescription.

Right eye is still 0 sphere, down to -0.25 cylinder from -0.5 and an axis of 135 (was 155)
Left eye sphere has dropped to -0.5 from -0.25 and the cylinder from -0.75 to -1. Axis 35 from 28.

So not a massive difference TBH, just that I now have a reading addition of +1.25 for both eyes.

 

[Thehooperman]

Ended up at boots simply because I could get in next day. Lots of machines used and been told I'm old! Need varifocals or 2 pairs apparently, personally I'd not really had an issue up close unless it's within 20cm so seems an expensive addition TBH! My prescription looks like it changed a little from last time so no point digging out the old pairs.

Also once your eyes get used to wearing varifocals you won't be able to focus on things like car instruments if you use a normal pair of glasses.

A couple of years ago I thought I'd save a bit of money and just ordered a pair of glasses for long distance as I was lifting my glasses to read anyway. When they arrived I could see things in the distance clearly but I had no idea what my speedometer was reading.

Luckily Mincher Lockett swapped them for a pair of varifocals and only charged what the difference would have been.

 

[Gramaisc]

I was warned, years ago - next time, it'll be two pairs or varifocals - and it was. I had to go the varifocal route, as I wouldn't even know whose house the other pair was in, if I was trying to run two pairs.

When the time came, I tried them on and doubted that I could even walk home in them - we reverted to the usual, 'start with the new pair the next morning' technique, but it was still not easy. I was told that it could take a week to 'accommodate' to them and it did get steadily less traumatic as time went on. By the end of the week, all was well.

There were various issues that needed care.

Walking down steps needed to be done with some concentration.

The first job I did with them on was to change a ceiling rose - absolutely impossible - my neck just wouldn't go back far enough to see through the 'near' bit. Luckily, I did have my old pair with me.

You will start doing that weird thing that old people do in shops - slowly nodding their heads to find the right bit of the focus to look through. I'd noticed it before, but put it down to some combination of Pilates and Parkinson's.

 

[tek-monkey]

Also once your eyes get used to wearing varifocals you won't be able to focus on things like car instruments if you use a normal pair of glasses.

A couple of years ago I thought I'd save a bit of money and just ordered a pair of glasses for long distance as I was lifting my glasses to read anyway. When they arrived I could see things in the distance clearly but I had no idea what my speedometer was reading.

Luckily Mincher Lockett swapped them for a pair of varifocals and only charged what the difference would have been.

This worries me, I can see car instruments fine at the moment, it's only really within 20cm I have an issue. I know the optician knows best, but part of me thinks he's wrong. The only way to find out though is to buy the varifocals.

 

[Gramaisc]

This worries me, I can see car instruments fine at the moment, it's only really within 20cm I have an issue. I know the optician knows best, but part of me thinks he's wrong. The only way to find out though is to buy the varifocals.

Varifocals, with your head at the right angle, will make it possible to focus in the far distance and on the instruments, at the same time - an advantage, especially at night, when running a wide aperture. Just a flick of the eyes, with no refocussing, is all that's needed to view one or the other.

 

[Lucy]

If you can wear contacts the latest idea is to have a short sighted one in one eye and long sighted in the other.

 

[Gramaisc]

If you can wear contacts the latest idea is to have a short sighted one in one eye and long sighted in the other.

And there are the 'multi-focal' things.

Although, I do wonder how you can accurately correct astigmatism via a contact lens.

 

[Thehooperman]

This worries me, I can see car instruments fine at the moment, it's only really within 20cm I have an issue. I know the optician knows best, but part of me thinks he's wrong. The only way to find out though is to buy the varifocals.

I would hold off going for varifocals for as long as you can because once your eyes are used to them you can't revert back.

If it's only close up things that you're struggling with I would suggest carrying a pair of reading glasses. Not ideal but it may be better until you eventually need varifocals.

 

[Lucy]

And there are the 'multi-focal' things.

Although, I do wonder how you can accurately correct astigmatism via a contact lens.

I have them in both eyes - contacts aren't quite as clear as glasses but good enough for me to wear them most of the time.

 

[tek-monkey]

I would hold off going for varifocals for as long as you can because once your eyes are used to them you can't revert back.

If it's only close up things that you're struggling with I would suggest carrying a pair of reading glasses. Not ideal but it may be better until you eventually need varifocals.

Its far away in one eye, very close up in both. Can't say I noticed the close up til he got me to read miniscule text at 20cm though!

 

[Gramaisc]

Its far away in one eye, very close up in both. Can't say I noticed the close up til he got me to read miniscule text at 20cm though!

Have you considered taking holy orders?